Eight — for the number of Grammy awards the 23-year-old contralto has already won. Two for her debut album, 19, named for her age at the time she started recording it, and six more for her second album, 21.

Born May 5, 1988, Adele has been on fire this winter, despite stormy weather late last year. A scary vocal cord hemorrhage that led to surgery forced her to take more than three months off to recover, but her performance during the Grammy Awards last weekend showed the world that she and her soulful, world-weary yet life-affirming voice are back.

Just two weeks ago, her single, Set Fire to the Rain (one of my favorite running songs!), became the third number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 from her album, 21, making her the first artist in history to have an album hold the number one spot on the Billboard 200 concurrently with three separate singles at number one.

It’s amazing to me that someone so young can sing country-flavored music and bluesy tunes with so much soul. Even more amazing when you consider that she didn’t grow up listening to country music at all.

She was introduced to contemporary Nashville music in 2008 by her bus driver while on tour in the South. “It was really exciting for me because I never grew up around [that music],” she says.

Adele counts artists from many genres, including country, among her musical influences, also citing the Spice Girls, Pink, Aaliyah, Destiny’s Child and Mary J. Blige.

About a live performance by Pink at Brixton Academy some years back, Adele says it was one of the most defining moments in her life. “It was the Missundaztood record,” she says, “so I was about 13 or 14. I had never heard, being in the room, someone sing like that live […] I remember sort of feeling like I was in a wind tunnel, her voice just hitting me. It was incredible.”

OMG, BE QUIET! Sorry, I’m yelling, but I sobbed and was actually singing along the first time I’d heard it. It was the strangest musical experience of my life. I just seemed to know the words. The Hubs thought I’d completely lost my mind, of course. He finds it whiny. I think Adele is fabulous! I’ve heard that this song has moved a lot of people, and I’m certainly one of them. 🙂

Girlfriend makes singing seem super easy (I can’t sing in the right pitch to save my life) – I had NO clue she was the same age as I am! I’d never seen pictures of her until now and I always assumed an older person.

I couldn’t decide between 4 and 6 – it seems most readers agree! I wish my hair could look like that, I have a lot of hair but it’s fine textured and lacks volume 🙁

Adele is ah-mazing! I think she had me with “Rolling in the Deep.” It’s been a while since there’s been a mainstream singer who can manipulate their voice (what we singers call “singing.” Real singing involves being able to get louder and softer without the need for a computer! Breath support does it!) The music video for “Rolling in the Deep” is amazing too!

See, I never noticed that difference. EVERYONE says that. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve always breathed the way your body is supposed to breathe (with your diaphragm and your lungs) or I’m missing something.

I’ve never took lessons; I’ve just sung most of my life. I do it for fun and lessons really are for people who plan to do it professionally (at least, that’s what I think.)

Adele is so beautiful and talented – I just love her! My fav look for her is between 4 and 6. I think she looks great with long, volume-rich hair.Gina recently posted … Washable Waterproof Mascara from AVON